Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1226 ..

MR CORBELL (continuing):

This government has sought a proactive and reasonable approach from the federal government. The Chief Minister has written to the Prime Minister twice in the last four months trying to achieve a satisfactory outcome on this issue. To date, the Prime Minister has not even given the territory the courtesy of a response.

It is unreasonable for the Commonwealth to sell land outside the territory's planning strategies and transfer the infrastructure cost to the territory taxpayer. The Commonwealth is inappropriately selling land which it does not need and which should be transferred to the territory.

As I have already indicated, the territory has used its planning powers in relation to the Civic site, indicating that a variation to that site was potentially to be progressed. As a result the Commonwealth withdrew that site from sale. It is unclear whether or not this will be a short-term or long-term decision.

The territory at least expects a cooperative approach from the Commonwealth when it comes to these matters, and we await an indication from the Prime Minister as to their preparedness to undertake such a cooperative approach. But in the absence of any proposal for a cooperative approach, this government will pursue all of the options available to it to protect the interests of the people of the ACT against the Commonwealth's cavalier approach to ad hoc land sales in Canberra.

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002-2003 budget consultation

MR STEFANIAK: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer. Treasurer, I refer to the document Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002-2003 Budget Consultation that was released by your government on Maundy Thursday, 28 March. In seeking to assist people and organisations to contribute to the government's pre-budget consultation process, I would assume that you intend to provide accurate information in this document. For many people, this financial information is complex enough without the need to check the veracity of the contents.

Recognising the importance of accuracy, can you confirm, for the Assembly and the community, that, in the analysis of total territory debt in chart two, there was, at 30 June 2001, more than $250 billion of debt as a result of Actew's borrowing program initiated in 1999-2000, almost $250 billion of debt due to the Commonwealth government relating to land and capital works for housing and almost $8 billion of debt because of land and buildings utilised by ACTION?

Treasurer, if so, do you actually mean million rather than billion?

MR QUINLAN: I am starting to worry, Mr Speaker. Are we talking typos, Bill?

Mr Stefaniak: I hope so.

MR QUINLAN: Not if you follow. If they were millions and not billions, would there be a question there?

Mr Stefaniak: Are they millions or billions?

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .